In addition, the new COO will assume responsibility for Retrack, VTG’s railway company, where his mandate is to further develop the existing Retrack network. Since 2003, Jäger has held various leadership positions within the rail freight sector. Jäger’s previous employer was DB Cargo, where he rose to the rank of Senior Vice President Traction Service Purchasing and Head of the Strategic Program Optimization of Capital Expenditures.
As the VTG Group strategically realigns its operating business, Wellbrock will in future devote more attention to strategic development of VTG’s wagon leasing, rail logistics and tank container leasing business. In this context, his job title will switch from COO Europe to Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) effective January 1, 2024.
“In recent months, we have put a great deal of effort into reviewing, reassessing and optimizing the structures and processes that underpin our operating business,” Wellbrock explains. “By appointing a new COO who will report straight to VTG’s Executive Board, we are putting the right conditions in place to drive our ambitious growth in Europe’s rail freight sector forward more effectively and with greater agility. I am therefore delighted that we have been able to recruit Thomas Jäger, an experienced manager whose proven expertise in rail freight will be instrumental in dovetailing our fleet with the company’s procurement processes.”
In the months ahead, the following staff changes will also be made within the new COO’s remit:
Thomas Jussen, Deputy Head of Production, will leave VTG of his own volition on October 31, 2023, to take up a new career challenge. Until Jussen’s permanent replacement takes over, Hannes Kotratschek, Head of Production, will take charge of the assignments associated with this function on an interim basis. “We deeply regret Thomas Jussen’s decision, because we value him as a person and as a manager. His exceptional qualities came to the fore yet again as we more closely aligned our internal maintenance capacity with the needs of the fleet,” Sven Wellbrock says. “Yet we naturally respect his decision and wish him all the best for the future.”
With effect from February 1, 2024, Andreas Roj will take over as the new Head of Strategic Procurement at VTG. Roj brings with him decades of international experience in strategic procurement and supply chain management, with a special focus on supplier development. His previous position was as Director Global Purchasing at the LMT Group.
“Securing the services of such a competent and experienced manager as Andreas Roj to fill this important position is tremendous,” Sven Wellbrock says. “He possesses a wealth of knowledge, and that will help us realize our plans to grow the fleet. We have every confidence in his capabilities and the stimulus he will inject into designing and adapting the sustainable processes of the future.”